Combined fire-escape and water-tower.



No. 705,7lo. Patented luly'29, |9112. Y

- yC. SCHWARZ & W. C. BRYANT.

'COMBINED Fleer-:SCAM AND WATER Town-2n.

(Application led Feb. 7, 1902.)

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un. 705,7ro. Patented luly'z. :902. c..scHwAnz & w. c. BRYANT.

CMBINED FIRE ESCAPE ANU WATER TOWER.

'l (Applicgeicn med Feb. 7'. 1902. (No Model.)

No. 705,7m. Patented my 29, |902.

c. scHwARz & w. c. BRYANT. COMBINED FIRE ESCAPE AND WATER TOWER.

. Y :Application filed Feb. 7. 1902.)

(No Model.) 3 Shees-Sheet 3.

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UNITED STATES PATENT- NEEICE.

CARL SCHWARZ, QUINCY TOWNSHIP, AND WILLIAM C. BRYANT, CF FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP, HOUCHTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN.

COMBINE-D FIRE-ESCAPE AND WATER-TOWER.

SPECI1 "IGA TION` forming part of Letters Patent No.` 705,710, `dated. July 29, 1902. Apnanon ned february 7. 1 902. serai No. tama montan.)

T0 @ZZ whom) it may concern:

Re it known that we, CARL SCHWARZ, residlng 1n Quincy township,vand WILLIAM C.

BRYANT, residing lin Franklin "township, in`

the county of Houghton and State of Michigan, citizens of the United States, have invented a certain 'new and useful Improvement in a Combined Fire-Escape and Tater- Tower, of which the following is a full, clear, l

connected with and having its nozzle or discharge end adapted to be elevated by said tower and a salvage bucket or. basket, and means for hoisting and lowering same also mounted upon and adapted to be elevated by said tower.

The invention consists' in a iire apparatus comprising a wheeled truck or carriage upon which is mounted a tilting platform which is adjustable by means of cam-plates, so as to level the platform and its superposed tower, the tower-platform being capable of being locked in its adjusted position; a lazy-tongs extension-tower mounted upon said platform, composed of bars or members` of novel construction and provided with novel means for raising and lowering same mounted upon the truck and arms or plates attached to said tower and engaging brackets upon the frame or platform to lock the tower in its extended position central crossbars for said lazytongs and a section of hose-pipe connected with the truck by a novel hose connection and extending within the tower and arranged upon oppositeor alternate sides of said crossbars and connected with and terminating in a nozzle or dschargeend upon a turn-table mounted upon said tower, and a salvagebucket and means forraisingand lowering same, whereby the bucket may be brought in close proximity to the turn-table; and the inven tion also consists in certain details of con'- struction and combination of parts, all as we will proceed n'ow more particularly to set forth and nally claim.

In the accompanying drawings, illustrating class of fire I like parts are similarly designated, Figure l is a side elevation with the towerlowered. Fig. 2 is a front elevation, the platform being in section just to the rear of. the drivers seatand the tower being extended and broken away to bring the upper part of the apparatus within the sight of the sheet. Fig. 3 is a partial side' elevation and section showing the tower elevating or extending mechanism. Fig. 4: is an enlarged partial section and plan view showing one member of the lazy-tongs tower. Fig.5 is a side elevation, on a larger scale, of. the hose connection or coupling l'or the truek-frame.- Fig.` 6 is an enlarged detail,.in side elevation, showing a portion of the tower-locking mechanism; and Fig. 7is an enlarged detail, in side elevation, showing the hose coupling or connection for the towerplatform and turn-table.

In carrying out our invention and in its preferred form we provide a truck-frame l, suitably mountedV upon wheels and which may be propelled by horse or other` suitable power. As shown more particularly in Fig. l, the truck is provided with suitable brake mechanism and other appliances necessary in such apparatus.

Secured to the sides of the truck-frame of the truck-frame and near the front and rear ends thereof are cam-plates 5 5, mounted upon rock-shafts suitably secured to the truck .andprovided with downwardlyextending arms 6 6, connected with thedownwardlyextending portion of the bell-crank lever 4 by means of links 7 7. The upwardly-extending arm of the bell-crank lever 4 is connected by means of a link or rod 4X with an operatinglever 8, suitably pivoted in the frame or plat- Mver 4. Also pivotally mounted upon this side form 3 and provided with the usual spring locking pawl and rack.

The cam-plates 5 engage studs or projections' 9, lixed to the side of the platform 3, and

areso arranged and connected with relation ourinvention, in the several gures of which l to each other that upon movement of said IOO cam-plates through the lever 8 and their link connections the platform 3 will be tilted or shifted upon its bearings in the standards 2,

to thereby adjust the platform to a level position should the truck be situated upon an incline or grade when in use.

In Fig. 1 we have shown the truck upon an incline and the tower platform or frame adjusted to a level or horizontal position.

In order to retain or lock the platform 3 in its adjusted position, we provide a klocking mechanism therefor, as shown in Fig. 2, which consists of a plate or bar 10, preferably of spring metal, secured at its lower end to the truck-frame 1 and extending upwardly and normally resting away from the frame or platform 3, as shown in dotted lines, Fig. 2. Suitably mounted upon the frame or platform 3 is a vertical staff or shaft 11, provided with a suitable hand-wheel 12, by which it may be turned, and at its lower end said shaft 11 is provided With a crank 13, to which is connected a rod 14, having its other end passing through the platform and slidably connected with the plate or bar 10, as by a link or loop formed on the end of the rod 14. It will be observed that by turning the shaft 11 the plate or bar 10 may be drawn up tight against the side of the frame or platform 3, as shown in full lines, Fig. 2, and thereby retain or lock the platform in its adjusted position.

Upon the rear of the platform 3 is mounted a frame 15, and within or upon the frame 15 the lazy-tongs extension-tower is supported. In the preferred construction this tower comprises four sets of lazy-tongs suitably arranged and connected to form a rectangular structure. The lower members of the lazyytongs toward the front of the truck are iiXedly and pivotally secured to the frame 15, and the lower members thereof toward the rear are pivotally secured to a bar 16, (see Fig. 3,) provided at its ends with rollers 17, fitted to slide in grooves or-ways 18 in the sides of the frame 15. The members or bars of the side sets of lazy-tongs are connected by central cross-bars 19, forming the central pivots for said bars or members. (See Fig. 2.

Each of the bars or members of the lazytongs is of novel construction, and in the preferred form and as shown in Fig. 4 comprises a central socket-piece 2O and end sockets 21. The socket-piece 20 is preferably constructed of a piece of metal having the oppositely-arranged recesses or sockets 22 22 and the laterally-extending notched lugs or ears 23 23. Bars 24 24, preferably tubular and of suitable length, are fitted and preferably brazed in the sockets 22 22 of the central socket-piece 20 and also in the end sockets 2l. The end sockets 21 are connected by rods or wires 25, strained overthe ears 23 of thecentral socket-piece 20, and said rods or wires are provided with straining devices, such as turnbuckles 26. y

The socket-pieces 20 and 21 21 are provided with holes or perforations to receive the pivot-pins by which the members of the lazy-tongs are secu red together. By this construction it will be observed that a strong, light, and durable member for the lazy-tongs structure is provided and one which will stand the strains to which such structure is subjected when in use with little liability to breakage or damage.

For easily and conveniently raising and lowering the lazy-tongs tower we provide a screw-shaft 27, arranged longitudinally of the truck and supported in a suitable bearing 28 at the rear of the frame or platform 3, (see Fig. 3,) and extending forward toward the front of the apparatus a suitable distance beyond the front of the lazy-tongs structure and its supporting-frame and there supported in a suitable bearing-piece 29, secured to the bottom of the frame or platform 3. A gear-wheel 30 is fixed upon the shaft 27, adjacent the bearing 29, and extends'through an opening in the platform 3. Also mounted upon the platform 3 is a suitable standard or bearing 31, in which is mounted a gear 32, the shaft of which upon opposite sides is provided with suitable cranks or handles 33, by which said gear 32 may be revolved in either direction. Also mounted in the standard or bearing 31 is an intermediate gear 34, meshing with the gears 30 and 32, andthrough which gears the screw-shaft 27 may be rotated in either direction for a purpose presently appearing. A cross-bar 35 is suitably supported and guided at its ends in grooves 36X in the sides of the frame or platform 3, and said bar` is provided with a screw-nut or socket 37X, through which the screw-shaft 27 passes, the said nut 37X and its attached bar 35 being caused to travel upon the shaft in either direction, according to the direction of rotation of the shaft 27. Connected to opposite ends of the bar 35 and also connected to the central connecting or. cross bar 19 of the lower members of the lazy-tongs are links or rods 38X 38X, by which the lower sliding ends of the lazy-tongs members are forced in either direction in raising or lowering the tower, as the case may be, through the movement of the bar 35.

In order to sustain the tower in its elevated or extended position, we provide segmental arms or plates 36 36, (see Figs. 1, 2, and 6,) pivotally secured or hung to the outer ends of the lower members of the forward lazytongs section of the tower, as at 37 37, Figs. l and 2. These segmental arms or plates 36 36 pass through slotted brackets 38 38, secured to the sides of the frame or platform 3, and suitably mounted in the slotted brackets 38 38 are cams or eccentrics 39 39. These cams or eccentrics 39 39 are mounted upon rock-shafts 40 40, having downwardly-extending arms 41 4l. Suitably mounted upon the platform 3 is a standard 42, in which and a suitable` portion of the frame or platform is mounted a rock-shaft 43, provided with oppositely-extending arms 44 44, and links 45 IOO izo

45 connect 'said arms 44 44 with the downwardly-extendin g arms 4141 of the rock-shafts 40 40 of the cams or eccentrics 39 39. Also secured to the rock-shaft 43 adjacent the standard 42 is a handle 46, provided with a suitable locking-pawl to engage notches in the standard 42 to retain or lock the handle and the cams or eccentrics 39 39, which are adjusted thereby, in adjustedposition. It will be observed that by this construction upon movement of the handle 46 to the left, as indicated in Fig. 2, the cams or eccentrics 39 will be caused to engage the segmental arms or plates 36 and force them against the outer ends of the slotted brackets 38 and be locked in such position, and thereby'retain the tower in itsextended condition.

As an additional support for the free and sliding end of the lazy-tongs structure when extended we provide separate and independent props 47, provided at theirlupper ends with hooks 48 to engage one or the other of the lower members of the lazy-tongs, and having their lower ends pointed or otherwise constructed to be stuck into the ground. (See Fig. 2.) These props serve to steady the lazy-tongs structure when in use and when not in use the props are conveniently carried by being hung or supported upon suitable hooks 49, arranged upon the sides of the frame or platform, as clearly shown in Fig. 1.

Upon the upper members of the lazy-tongs structure we arrange a platform 50, provided at its forward end with an extension 51. l Secured to the bottom ofthe platform 50 and extending downwardly therefrom are rods 50X, having their lower ends bent outwardly in an opposite direction, and said rods are arranged in such position that they will embrace or engage the several central crossbars 19 of the lazy-tongs structure upon `opposite sides when said lazy-tongs structure is being lowered, the outwardly-bent ends of said rods serving as guides for directing the rods upon the proper side of the crossbars 19, and also preventing the rods from catching upon the cross-bars, and said rods 50Xalso serve as braces for the platform 50 when the lazy-tongs structure is elevated by reason of the fact that they will remain in engagement with the opposite sides of the central cross-bars 19 of the upper members of the lazy-tongs structure. Mounted upon the platform 50 is a turn-table 52, preferably supported upon rollers or casterwheels, as shownin Figs. l and 2. The turntable 52 is provided with a suitable guard-rail 53. Hinged to the turn-table is a crane 54, provided with braces 55, and in order to support the crane in its lowered position we conneet said braces 55 with the guard-rail 53 by means of ropes or chains 56. A pulley or sheave 57 is mounted in a slot or opening in the outer end of the crane 54, over which pulley or sheave the rope or chain 58, to ,which the salvage-bucket 59 is attached, passes to a windlass 60, also mounted upon the turn-table. A button 61 or other suitable enlargement is secured to the rope or chain 58 j ustabove its connection with the salvage-bucket, and said button is of such size as not to pass through the slot in the crane 54 and over the pulley or sheave 59, and consequently when the bucket is hoisted to its limit the said button will stop the progress of the rope or chain over the pulley or sheave, and upon further winding of the windlass `the crane 54 will be raised, as shown in Fig. 2, andthe bucket drawnin toward the turn-table and platform to make it easily accessible. Also secured to the turntable 52 and substantially diametrically opposite the bucket-hoisting and manipulating mechanism is an extension-bridge, comprising a xed portion 62 and a sliding or movable portion 63, resting and sliding upon rollers 64, secured in the fixed portion. (See particularly Fig. 2.) Both portions 62 and 63 ot' this extension-bridge are preferably provided with suitable guard-rails. In use the movable portion is moved outwardly upon the fixed portion to the desired extent toward the building or other structure at which the apparatus is being used and any suitable means may be provided for moving or extending the bridge or it may be moved by hand, as shown.

Secured to the truck-frame 1 by suitable clips below the tower-supporting frame is a `hose connection of novel construction, and as herein `shown (see Fig. 5))comprises a horizontal pipe 65, having at its inner end a screwnipple 66 and at its outer end provided with a suitable valve and hose-coupling 67. A down-pipe 68 communicates with the pipe 65 between its nipple end 66 and the valveand hose-coupling 67, and said down-pipe is provided with a suitable valve 69 for a purpose presently appearing. A section of hose-pipe 70 of sufficient length for the entire extension ofthetower is connected at its lower end to the nipple 66 of the pipe 65 and extends thence through the platform 3 and upwardly within ICO IIO

the tower, and in order to prevent said hoseA j raising and lowering the tower it is in accord-4 ance with ourinvention passedback and forth Vacross the central cross-bars 19 of the lazytongs structure or tower, so that it shall lie on opposite or alternate sides of adjacent cross-bars. The upper end of the hose-pipe 7()` is connected with the lower end of a coupling 7l, suitably fixed in the platform 50 and extending upwardly through the iioor of the turn-table 52,which is free to rotate about the coupling. (See particularly Fig. 7.) To the upper end of the coupling 71 we attach a section of hose-pipe 72, provided with the usual nozzle, and which is adapted to be coiled up upon the turn-table when not in use.

The purpose of the down-pipe 68 in the coupling 65 is to drain the hose-pipe 70 when the supply is cut ed at valve and coupling 67.

A stationary ladder 73 is arranged upon the platform 3 just in front of and to one side of sition.

`the lazy-tongs structure and. is of sufficient height to reach the extension 51 of the platform 50 when, the tower is'in the lowered po- (See Fig. 1.)

The operation of our ,apparatus is asfollows: When the apparatus is not in use, it is retained in the position shown in Fig. 1, and when it is desired to use the apparatus the truck is mounted by the driver and the proper number of men andconveyed to the place of use, and when properly situated the towersupporting frame or platform is, if necessary, adjusted to the proper level by manipulating the handle 8, and when the proper level has been obtained the platform is secured in such position by turning the hand-wheel12, thereby binding the plate lO tightly against lthe .side of the frame or platform. The proper vcranks or handles 33 33 ofthe tower-hoisting mechanism, and when the desired height is reached the turn-table is turned to bring the extension-bridge toward a window or other opening for the escape of those in danger.

At the same time the salvage-bucket and its su pporting-crane are brought to a position adjacent the extension 51 of the platform 50, which extension is beyond the turn-table. The salvage-bucket is drawn up by its windlass 60, and the button or enlargement 61 engaging the sheave and outer end of the crane, and further winding of the windlass raises the crane, and the bucket thereby drawn in close to the extension of the platform, and thus persons fleeing from the burningV structure may easily enter the bucket and be rlowered to the ground or other place of safety. In the meantime the hydrant or plug has .been connected with the hose connection 65 at its valve and coupling 67 and the valve opened, while the valve 69 in the down-pipe 68 is retained in a closed position and the hose 71 upon the turn-table is ready to be manipulated by the firemen upon the turn-table. When the fire is extinguished and the persons endangered rescued, the valve 67 is closed, and the water remaining in the hose,- pipes and 71 is drained o by opening valve 69 in down-pipe 68, thereby leaving nofwater in said hose-pipes 7 O and '7l to rot them. The hydrant or plug is then disconnected, and

.the apparatus is then adjusted to the position indicated in Fig. 1 to be returned to itsvplace of keeping.

It will be observed that in lowering the' tower the hose-pipe 70 will assume the position shown in Fig.1 by reason of the fact that it is arranged or intertwined upon opposite sides of the central cross-bars 19 of the lazy-tongs structure and each loopv or coil thereof supported by a cross-bar, and thereby buckling or entangling of the hose-pipe is avoided.

We wish to be understood that we do not limit our invention to the exact details of construction herein 'shown and described, as the same may be altered-in various particulars and still be within the scope of our invention.

What we ,claim'is- 1. In a fire-escape, a wheeled truck, a towersupporting frame or platform centrally pivoted upon said truck, cam-plates pivotally securedv to said truck upon opposite sides of ythe pivotal point of and engaging said towersupporting frame or platform, and means for moving said cam-plates to thereby adjust said tower-supporting frame or platform, substantially as described.

2. In ahrc-escape, a wheeled truck, a towersupporting frame or platform centrally piv- .oted upon said truck, cam-platesarranged upon opposite sides of the-"pivotal point of saidy frame or platformand supporting the same, and means Yfor moving said cam-.plates to thereby adjust said tower-supporting frame or platform',substantially as described.

3. In a fire-escape, a Wh eeled truck, a towersupporting frameorplatform pivotally mounted upon said truck, cam-plates also pivotally secured to said truck and engaging said tower- .against said tower-supporting frame or platform to retain it in adjusted stantially as described.

5. In a fire-escape, the combination with a wheeled truck, a tower-supporting frame or position, sub- .platform pivotally mounted upon said truck,

and means for adjusting said tower-supporting frame or platform with relation to said truck, of a locking-plate secured to said truck, ahand-wheel and staff mounted in said frame or platform, and a connection between said staff and locking-plate, whereby said lockingplate may be drawn tight against said frame or platform to lock it in adjusted position, substantially as described.

6. In a fire-escape, a wheeled truck and an extension lazy-tongs tower supported thereupon, each member of said lazy-tongs tower comprising a one-piece central socket-piece `having lateral lugs, bars secured in said socket-piece, socket-pieces secured to the ends of said bars, and a brace wire or rod secured to said end sockets and engaging the lateral lugs of said central socket-piece, the said socket-pieces having holes or perforations to receive the connecting pivots or bars, substantially as described.

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7. In a fire-escape, an extension lazy-tongs said bars, brace `wires `or` rods fitted to saidend sockets and engaging the notches of the lateral lugs of said` central socket-piece, the said socket-pieces having holes or perforations to receive the connecting pivots or bars, and turnbuckles applied to said wires or rods, substantially as and for the purpose described. f

8. In a fire-escape, a wheeled truck, a towersupporting frame or platform mounted upon said truck, an extension lazy-tongs tower provided with central cross-bars and having one end fixed to said frame or platform, a bar fitted to Vslide in said frame or platform, and connected with the other end of said lazytongs tower, an independent cross-bar also fitted to slide in said frame or platform, rods or links connecting said independent crossbar with the lower central pivot-bar of -said lazy-ton gs tower, a screw-shaft engaging said independent cross-bar, and means for rotating said screw-shaft, whereby said tower may be raised or lowered, vsubstantially as described.

9. In a fire-escape, a wheeled truck, a tower-` supporting frame or platform mounted upon said truck, an extension lazy-tongs tower provided with central cross-bars and having one end fixed to said frame or platform, 'a bar fitted to slide in said frame or platform, and connectcdwith the other end of said lazytongs tower` an independent cross-bar also fitted to slide in said frame or platform, rods or links connecting said independent crossbar with the lower` central pivot-bar of said lazy-tongs tower, a screw-shaftengaging said independent cross-bar, means for rotating said screw-shaft, comprising a `crank-shaft mounted upon said frame or platform, and gearing connecting saidcrank-shaft with said screw-shaft,wherebysaid tower may be raised or lowered, substantially as described.

l0. In aviire-escape,a wheeled truck,a towersupporting frame or platform mounted upon said truck, an extension lazy-tongs tower provided with central cross-bars, a platform supported upon said tower, means for raising and lowering said tower, and downwardly-exfor raising and lowering said tower, of meansfor locking said tower comprising a bracket secured to said frame or platform, an arm or plate carried by said tower, and means for forcibly engaging said arm or plate with the bracket, substantially as described.

12. In a tire-escape, the combination with a wheeled truck, a tower-supporting frame or platform mounted upon saidtruck, an eXtension lazy-tongs tower carried by said frame or platform, and means for raising said tower, of means for locking said tower in its raised position, comprising a slotted bracket xed tosaid frame or platform, a segmental arm or plate pivotally hung to and carried by one of the members of said lazy -tcngs tower `and passing through said slotted bracket, a cam or eccentric arranged in said bracket and engaging said arm or plate with the bracket, substantially as described.

13. In a fire-escape, the combination with a Wheeled truck, a tower-supporting frame or platform mounted upon said truck, an extension lazy-ton gs tower carried by said frame or platform, and means for raising said tower, lof means for locking said tower in its raised position,comprising slotted brackets arranged upon opposite sides of the frame or platform, segmental arms pivotally hun g to and carried by one of the members of the lazy-tongs tower `and passing through said slotted brackets,

cams or eccentrics arranged in said slotted brackets and engaging said arms, a rock-shaft and handle therefor mounted upon said frame or platform, and connectionsbetween said rock-shaft and cams or eccentrics to move said cams or eccentrics to forcibly engage said arms with the brackets, substantially as described.

14. In a fire-escape, an extension-tower, a turn-table supported upon the upper end of said tower, a'crane hinged to said turn-table land provided with a sheave or pulley, a salvage-bucket, and a rope or chainforsupporting said bucket passing over said sheave or pulley, awindlass mounted upon said turn-table and receiving said rope or chain, and a button or enlargement on said rope between said bucket and sheave and adapted to engage said sheave to raise said crane, to thereby bring the bucket in proximity to the turn-table, substantially as described.

l5. In a fire-escapeand water-tower, an extension lazy-tongs tower provided with central cross bars, combined with a hose pipe carried by said tower and arranged alternately upon opposite sides of adjacent central cross-bars, substantially as and for the purpose described.

16. In a combined lire-escape and watertower, the combination with a wheeled truck, a tower-supporting frame mounted upon said truck, and an extension lazy tongs tower mounted upon said frame and provided with central cross-bars, of a valved hose connec- IOO IIO

tion secured to said truck and provided with l uection for said hose-pipe at the upper end of said tower, substantially as described.

17. In a fire-escape, an extension-tower, a turn-table supported upon the upper end of said tower, a crane hinged t0 said turn-table and provided with a sheave or pulley, a salvage-bucket, and a rope or chain for supporting said bucket passing over said sheave or pulley, a Wndlass mounted upon said turntable and receiving said rope or chain, and a button or enlargement on said rope between said bucket and sheave and adapted to engage said sheave to raise said crane, to thereby bring the bucket in proximity to the turntable, and an extension-bridge also secured to said turntable ata point substantially diametrically opposite said crane, substantially as described. Y

In testimony whereof We have hereunto set our hands this 28th day of January, A. D. 2o 

